China charms world, now more popular than US; Xi tops Trump on trust: Report
A 2026 Pew Research Center poll indicates that China is viewed more favorably than the United States in 25 out of 36 surveyed countries. The data shows a significant shift in global perception, with many nations favoring China's leadership over the US.
Why it matters
This shift in global sentiment suggests a potential decline in US soft power and a realignment of international diplomatic influence toward China.
China is now viewed more positively than the US in most of the 36 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center in early 2026, with similar patterns seen in views of their leaders, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.Pew’s latest global poll of 42,151 adults in 36 countries and territories, conducted between February 8 and May 13, 2026, finds that favorable views of China have reached record highs in many places, while perceptions of the US have worsened.
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